Monday, November 12, 2007

I MUST have this sweater

I'm not usually one to get the urge to knock-off a design for myself, but when my salesperson brought this sweater back from Paris about a two months ago, I just HAD to have it!

I wanted to take down all the details, but before I could, it went off to this appointment and that. Then it ended up in HK for customer development. I made it known that as soon as it comes back I NEED it!!! (For my line - of course) It came back a few weeks ago and all stitches, measurements and details have been recorded.

Then one Tuesday at LIC knit, I was flipping through the new Anthropologie catalog that Carolyn had brought to knit group and there it was again!

So I'm obsessed and must make it. I know exactly what yarn I'm going to use and everything. I'll even relearn how to crochet for the button placket detail. Anything, anything to have this sweater in my wardrobe this year.

My Rhinebeck purchase with this sweater in mind.

I'm just afraid of one thing - it's going to be everywhere - like the Pringle sweater (Old Navy has a nice one for $30). I ask myself, is it worth it if I see it knocked off in every store you could ever think of? Will I still want to wear it? Considering I have been drooling over it for almost 2 months now, I want to think I won't care, but that was before I saw it in Anthropology.........

I love Anthropology. I really, really do. But I'm so torn about copying a sweater from there. I feel so.....cheap. If it was less known and harder to get a hold of the original, I feel I have an excuse, but Anthro is just a few subway stops away. I guess my excuse could be saving $100 off the cost of the sweater? But is that still justified - even if I would NEVER spend the $198 on it no matter how much I like it? The jury is still out.

11 comments:

if it makes you feel any better, you're not alone! I haven't been able to figure out how to get started with that yoke or I would certainly be trying to make my own version! I don't live anywhere near anthro; even if I did I wouldn't buy it though...probably just go to the store for a closer look!

Oooh, I went crazy over that jumper too! I guess I don't have the same problem, since I live in England an no-one's heard of Anthropologie, but just remind yourself how much better you'll feel having a jumper made specifically to your size and of far superior materials.

That is a gorgeous sweater. Did you see Veronique's most recent post about her Coviello sweater? I didn't realize Coviello designed a sweater for Vogue Knitting that he also mass produced. I like Veronique's version better :)

So I would say go for it. I'm sure elements of it will be different anyhow as you put your own unique stamp on it.

the thing is, part of it is the process for you -- you love to knit, you love to figure out patterns, etc. so i don't think it's problematic at all. and you'll probably come up with something cuter anyway!

whoa, that sweater IS amazing. so worth making as one can always tell a sweater made by hand rather than mass produced in a factory AND your yarn looks super nice. any chance of making your pattern available for "le public"?

It's a totally amazing sweater! I think it would totally be worth your time and you'll be able to make it even better because it'll be tailored to you. If you do make it, is there any chance you'll share the pattern? I'd love to give it a try but don't know where to begin.